Page 77 of Noticing Natalie
Love,
Tim
P.S. Are you a little jealous of Mrs. Funkendweller, Nat? Be honest.
I cracked up again. I had finally gotten up to get a box of tissue since I kept laughing and crying so much.
Natalie,
I will love you for the rest of my life. There will never be anyone but you for me. I miss everything about you, even the annoying way your hiccups sound suspiciously similar to the way a chihuahua barks. I tried to date this woman who looks kind of like you. It didn’t work out. Do you know why? It’s because shewasn’tyou. Not even close. Yes, if I narrowed my eyes just right, I could pretend she was you based on looks alone. But when she opened her mouth? Nope. Her favorite thing to talk about was her doll collection. Let me say that slower: Her. Doll. Collection. Do you remember that I’m terrified of dolls? She even took me on a tour of her house to show all of them to me. She had multiple rooms full of dolls, Nat. Multiple rooms. I haven’t been able to sleep since. Ikeep imagining I hear the sound of their creepy little doll feet running around my house.
Did I tell you I got a house? I couldn’t stand to be in that condo any longer. All I could think about was the way your face looked when I realized you saw Cora and me together. I had to get out of there.
I love you forever.
Love,
Tim
P.S. I miss the smell of your shampoo. I tried to buy a bottle of it the other day even though I didn’t know the name. The lady helping me asked me to describe the scent. I told her it smelled like sunshine. She walked off to find it, or so I thought, but then never came back. I think I smelled every bottle in the place. People might or might not have thought I was weird. Just kidding—they thought I was a total freak. Teenage girls ran off the aisle to get away from ‘the creepy shampoo sniffer.’ I hope that nickname doesn’t catch on.
I sat there reading the entire afternoon. And when I finished them, I read them again.
And then I called him.
“Hey, Nat,” he said, sounding pleased to hear from me.
“Hey. Do you know how you asked me out, and I said that I was too scared? That we should just be friends?”
“That does vaguely ring a bell…” he joked.
“I changed my mind. If you still want to go out, I’d love to go on a date with you.”
I heard him let out a breath.
“That makes me really happy. Tonight?”
I looked out the window, pleased to see sunshine peeking through the clouds. “Sounds good.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven, okay?”
“I’ll see you then.”
It was already five. I ran around the house cleaning a bit, getting ready, trying on multiple outfits, and generally stressing myself out.
By the time the doorbell rang, I was relieved.
***
We mainly discussed his journals as we ate at our favorite Italian restaurant in town. I mean, it was the only Italian restaurant in town, but it was really good. By the time we reached dessert, I was stuffed, so Tim ordered Tiramisu and cannoli to go.
We were on our way out when we practically ran right into Heath with Gemma Reardon.
We said hello, and I couldn’t help but gape at the two of them together.
A flash of annoyance ran over Heath’s face. “Well. I’m not surprised to see the two of you together,” he said snidely.
Tim clapped him on the shoulder a little too hard and said, “Thanks, man. That means a lot.”
